Kassar S.B.,Alagoas State University of Health Sciences | Melo A.M.C.,Federal University of Alagoas | Coutinho S.B.,Federal University of Pernambuco | Lima M.C.,Federal University of Pernambuco | Lira P.I.C.,Federal University of PernambucoJornal de Pediatria | Year: 2013

The purpose of this study was to characterize cases of violence against children and adolescents examined at the Forensic Medicine Institute in Maceió, Alagoas State, Brazil. Three hundred and three cases from September, 2008 to March, 2009, were analyzed. Victims were interviewed and data were collected on the type of violence, victim's gender, age, schooling, and economic class, maternal schooling, characteristics of the aggressor and person reporting the case, location, and repeat offenses. Violence against children and adolescents in this sample was concentrated in lower income groups, and girls were victimized more frequently than boys. Most perpetrators were non-relatives, but known to the family. Sexual abuse was more common among younger children, while physical assault was more common against adolescents. The victim's home was the most frequent site of the violence. Further studies are needed to determine whether violence in other socioeconomic groups and against males actually does not occur, or whether it simply is not reported to the Forensic Medicine Institute and thus remains invisible.

Quini C.C.,São Paulo State University | Americo M.F.,Federal University of Mato Grosso | Cora L.A.,Alagoas State University of Health Sciences | Calabresi M.F.F.,São Paulo State University | And 3 more authors.Journal of Biological Engineering | Year: 2012

Teles F.,Alagoas State University of Health Sciences | de Azevedo V.F.D.,Alagoas State University of Health Sciences | de Miranda C.T.,Federal University of Alagoas | de Melo Miranda M.P.,Federal University of Alagoas | And 2 more authors.Clinics | Year: 2014

de Oliveira C.M.G.,Alagoas State University of Health Sciences | Lanza F.C.,Federal University of São Paulo | Sole D.,Federal University of São PauloJornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia | Year: 2012

Objective: To compare children/adolescents with mild or moderate asthma and healthy subjects in terms of respiratory muscle strength, correlating it with spirometric variables in the former group. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving individuals 6-16 years of age and clinically diagnosed with mild/moderate asthma, together with a group of healthy, age- and gender-matched subjects. We determined spirometric values, as well as MIP and MEP, and we selected three reproducible measurements (variation < 10%). Results: We evaluated 75 patients with asthma and 90 controls. The mean age was 10.0 ± 2.6 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the controls and the asthma group regarding MIP (-89.7 ± 26.7 cmH2O vs. -92.2 ± 26.3 cmH2O; p = 0.541) or MEP (79.2 ± 22.9 cmH2O vs. 86.4 ± 24.0 cmH2O; p = 0.256). The groups were subdivided by age (children and adolescents: 6-12 and 13-16 years of age, respectively). Within the asthma group, there was a significant difference between the child and adolescent subgroups in terms of MEP (74.1 ± 24.1 cmH2O vs. 92.1 ± 21.9 cmH2O; p < 0.001) but not MIP (p = 0.285). Within the control group, there were significant differences between the child and adolescent subgroups in terms of MIP (-79.1 ± 17.7 cmH2O vs. -100.9 ± 28.1 cmH2O; p < 0.001) and MEP (73.9 ± 18.7 cmH2O vs. 90.9 ± 28.1cmH2O; p < 0.001). In the asthma group, spirometric variables did not correlate with MIP or MEP. Conclusions: In our sample, asthma was found to have no significant effect on respiratory muscle strength.